GUEST OPINION: With control, medical marijuana is beneficial

At age 65, I am a practicing physician with over 35 adolescents. I am also the father of a person with central neuropathic pain due to a spinal cord injury. I went to college in the ’60s and did my internship, residency, and fellowship in northern California. I am also a voting delegate, member of the Legislative Com...

By Eric J. Ruby

Wicked Local

By Eric J. Ruby

Posted Mar. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 26, 2013 at 3:51 AM

By Eric J. Ruby

Posted Mar. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 26, 2013 at 3:51 AM

» Social News

At age 65, I am a practicing physician with more than 35 adolescents. I am also the father of a person with central neuropathic pain due to a spinal cord injury. I went to college in the ’60s and did my internship, residency, and fellowship in northern California. I am also a voting delegate, member of the Legislative Committee of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and president elect of the Bristol North Chapter. I believe my life experiences place me in a unique position to weigh the many factors related to medicinal marijuana. Because of my background, I have been asked to be on the board of ECO, a potential medicinal marijuana dispensary in Massachusetts. I will receive no monetary compensation for this position.

1. My patients have tried multiple medications to relieve their anxiety, depression, stress, pain, nausea, vomiting, migraines, back pain, and chronic fatigue. I am always concerned about addiction to FDA approved Oxycontin, Percodan, Ativan, Valium, SSRIs and Marinol. Since psychiatric help is difficult to find and prolonged, THC has been efficacious and non-addicting in very many cases. I suggest physician discretion and judgment in choosing the appropriate patient with the appropriate diagnosis who has a bona fide relationship with that patient.

2. My son, now 37 years old, has lived with a T6 complete spinal cord injury for the past 12 years. FDA approved pain medication made him dangerously constipated and unable to think clearly. I have watched him in agony from his disability without my ability to help him. Smoking marijuana through water has allowed Ethan to function as a father, business man and husband. His pain has been alleviated with a few puffs each day. He moved to Colorado where he would not risk legal actions due to his physical disability.

3. Going to college in the late ’60s and living in northern California in the early ’70s was an opportunity to observe THC use among my friends and colleagues at social events. No one abused THC to the point that approved liquor, gambling, cigarettes, and guns have decimated lives and families. I cannot believe the outright hypocrisy of our legislative officials and medical community as the legitimate use of marijuana has demonstrated so many positive outcomes.

4. As a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, I appreciate my colleagues’ concerns for strict enforcement and unforeseen consequences. Their fear is admirable.

My suggestions based on numerous conversations with my medical colleagues:

1. Continue to encourage the DEA and FDA to reclassify marijuana to a Class II drug so research can be done.

2. Allow the prescription for a certificate to have a one year renewal date.

3. Emphasize that the certificate only be issued by a physician who has a bona fide relationship with the patient, either long-term as a PCP, or short-term as a surgeon, oncologist or pain specialist.

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4. Do not, under any circumstances, tie the hands of the physician by making specific diagnosis a criterion.

5. Do not make the physician try “conventional” medications first. Prior approval for many prescriptions is a nightmare.

6. No MD who issues these certificates in good faith should be subject to legal ramifications.

7. Ensure that the issuance of the “recommendation” is not a disproportionately large (or even exclusive) aspect of their practice.

Thank you for your consideration.

Eric J. Ruby, M.D., F.A.A.P., is a Taunton physician. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Massachusetts.